Leader of Cocaine Cartel Arrested in Spain

MADRID (AP) — Spanish police say they have arrested a Colombian suspected of being the leader of a ruthless criminal organization linked to 400 murders, international drug trafficking and extortion.

The 40-year-old man, identified as Hernan Alonso Villa and described as one of Colombia’s most wanted criminals, was arrested Friday while driving on a highway on the outskirts of the southeastern Mediterranean port city of Alicante, police said in a statement.

Alonso Villa is alleged to be the head of a cartel, or criminal organization, from Medellin, Colombia. The cartel was founded by Diego Murillo Bejarano and has fought bloody turf wars with notorious drug baron Pablo Escobar.

Saturday’s statement says Alonso Villa had 200 people under his command and was responsible for exporting cocaine to Spain, United States and the Netherlands.